Instrument panel



July 3, 92s.

A. CHAMPION INSTRUMENT Hm Filed July 2. 1926 Patented July a, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AL B ERT CHAMPION OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR. TO A C SPARK PLUG COMPANY,

' OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, A COMPANY OF MICHIGAN.

INSTRUMENT PANEL.

This invention relates to instrument panels and particularly to those of the type in which the instruments are indirectly illuminated. In the present instance indirect illumination is provided by locating the light source at the rear of the panel and spacing the instruments from the rear of the panel so as to permit some of the rays from the source to strike the faces of the instruments. One feature of my invention consists in the provision of a simple spacing means to hold the instrument in proper position with respect to the light source and preferably in a s 'ghtly tilted position so as to secure more effective illumination. This spacing means in its simple form consists of an arcuate ring snapped over the instrument bezel and cut away on the side adjacent the light source so permit passage of rays of "light to the Another feature of my invention consists in providihg in the usual instrument face plate in addition to the display apertures for the dials, an aperture for the passage of light to certain of the dials at the rear of the face plate, thus eliminating shadows which would otherwise be cast. This additional aperture is preferably in the form of a slit in the face plate directly above one of the display apertures and preferably so shaped that the interior of the instrument is not visible .through the slit from the ordinary reading position.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an instrum'ent-panel embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is arear elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2- parts being shown in elevation for sinliplicity.

igure 4 is a perspective view of the spacer element.

The reference character 2 indicates the usual instrument board provided upon antomobiles. The reference character 4 indi-.'

cates a removable instrument panel upon which, for convenience, theinstruments are -.mounted prior-to the fitting of the panel in the'opening 6 in the instrument board. Obs viously if desired the panel 4 may be formed integrall with the instrument board. I have in icated three instruments mounted on the panel. The instruments numbered 8 and 10 are shown as bolted directly to the panel, each of the instrument casings 1928. Serial No. 120,240.

provided with openings 11 covered with transparent material and facing the light source which is preferabl in the form of a bulb 12 removably secure to the rear of the panel by sprlng clips 14. The instrument casings 8 and 10 are so arranged that the light passing through the apertures 11 falls upon the instrument dials, portions of which are dlsplayed through arcuate openings 13 provided in the panel. 16 indicates an instrument, in this case a speedometer, in the mounting and in the construction of the face plate of whichthe novel features constituting my invention are employed. If desired, these features may likewise be utilized in connection with the instrument shown at 8 and 10 but for simplicity I have restricted the, showing to the speedometer 16. The speedometer 16 is of conventional constructlon except for the face plate. The mechanlsm of the speedometer is enclosed in a casdials are visible. likewise provided :with an opening 26 for the display of these dials. The edge of the opening is inturned as indicated at 44. The,

face plate is covered by a transparent plate 28 secured to the casing by means of bezel 30. Between the instrument 16 and the rear of the panel is arranged a spacing element 32.

shown in detail in Figure 4. This spacer element is arcuate in shape as shown and is provided with a flange 34 adapted to snap over the projecting portion of the bezel or. if preferred, over a "similar projection formed upon the casing 20. The spacer is also provided with a flange 46 snugly fitting the inturned edge 44 of the opening 26-to insure proper positioning of the instrument and spacer at the opening. The spacer is discontinuous to provide a gap indicated at 36 atthe side adjacent the light source 12 to permit some of the rays from the light source to fall upon the instrument dials at the rear of the panel. The spacer is also preferably of tapered form, the largest portion 40 being the portionnearest the light source so that the instrument is held in an inclined position which permits the passage of a greater quantity of light to the face of the instrument.

portion of the face plate between the adjacent openings 24 would cast shadows upon the lower dials. To avoid this the material of the face plate between the upper openings is provided with an opening 48 produced by slitting the material of the face plate and pressing it rearwardly. The opening thus formed permits the passage of light to the i pearance when viewed from the usual dials at the rear of the face plate eliminating shadows, but at the same time the face plate presents a substantially unbroken apreading position. 7 claim: a

1. The combination of an automobile instrument panel, an instrument mounted on the panel, a face plate for the instrument, said face plate having an aperture for the display of the dial, a light source arr d at one side of the instrument, said face'p ate being formed with an aperture adjacent the ment, said instrument being provided with a face plate having an aperture for the inspec tion of the dial, said face plate being pro-.

vided with a second aperture facing the hght source for the projection of light upon the dial at the rear of the face plate.

3'. An instrument having h casing, a cover for the casing including a face plate having a dial inspection aperture, said face plate being provided with a second aperture face mg m a difierent direction from said ins tion rture for the projection of light upon t lii dial at the rear of the face plate.

4. Atstamped face plate for an instrument havin an aperture for the display of the dial and an inwardly pressed lip ad acent the aperture for the projection of-the light upon the dial at the rear of the aper- 5. The combination of an instrument pan an instrument mounted on the panel and provided with an outwardly projecting bezel portion, and a member between theinstrument and e panel and provided light, spacing means between theopening, 0

having detacha with a flange fitting the bezel portion, said flange being of tapered cross section and provided with a cut away ortlon to permit projection of light upon t e instrument.

6. The combination of an instrument panel having an opening therein, an instrument arranged for display at the opening, detachable spacing means interposed between the instrument and the rear ofthe panel and arranged to tilt the instrument away from the panel, means for clamping the instrument and the spacin means to the rear of the panel, a source 0 7 light at the rear of the panel and lyin strument pane? and the plane of the instrument face, said '5 acing means being cut away adjacent the ight source to permit the light to illuminate the face of the instrument. 5 7

7. The combination of an instrument panel having an o ening therein, an instrument mounted ont e panel for display at'the openin a source of light at the rear of the panel or illuminating the face of the .instrument, spacing means interposed between between the planeof the in-- the instrument and therear of the panel and arranged to space .the. portion of the, instrument adjacent the light source a greater distance from the'panel than the portion remote from the light source, said means being discontinuous at the side adjacent the light source to permit projection of light upon .the face of the instrument, said spacing means comprising a resilient wedge shape arcuate member snapped over a portion of the instrument casing. 8. The combination of an instrument panel having an oplening therein, an instru-' ment mounted on t e panel for display at the a source of light at the rear of the panel r illuminating the face of theinstrument, spacing means interposed between the instrument and the rear of the panel andarranged to space the portion ofthe instrument adjacent thelight source agrea'ter distance from the panel than the portion remote from the light source, said means being idiscontinuous at the side adjacent the light source to permit projection of light upon the face of the instrument, the edge around said opening being inturned and said spacmg means comprising an arcuate member snugly engaginglthe said inturned-edge and ca 1 I imony whereof I aflix my signature.

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